Algeria's Abdelaziz Bouteflika has appointed Energy Minister Youcef Yousfi as interim premier, with outgoing Abdelmalek Sellal formally tasked with running the ailing president's campaign for re-election.
The mini cabinet re-shuffle, which also saw former premier Ahmed Ouyahia named director of the president's office, came on Thursday, just weeks ahead of the election, which is likely to see the 77-year-old president secure a fourth term despite serious concerns about his health.
The decision to put the current prime minister in charge of Bouteflika's re-election campaign was widely expected.
Sellal was closely involved in the two previous election campaigns that returned the president to power, in 2004 and 2009, and has spent much of the past year travelling the country defending Bouteflika's track record.
Another former prime minister, Abdelaziz Belkhadem, was named special adviser to the president, according to the statement from Bouteflika's office.
Earlier, six candidates including Bouteflika were approved to run in the April 17 leadership contest, the head of a constitutional panel announced.
Mourad Medelci, in a statement read out on public radio, listed the other candidates as Abdelaziz Belaid, Ali Benflis - an independent who is considered the main challenger to Bouteflika - Moussa Touati, Louisa Hanoune and Ali Fawzi Rebaine.
Campaigning officially begins on March 23 and will last until April 13.
